But whilst ungodly men are buoying themselves up with such delusive hopes, let us contemplate, IL Their bitter disappointments —
What was the issue of Micah's confidence? Was it justified by facts ? Could his idols help him in the day of adversity ? or did Jehovah interpose for his support ? No : his idols could not even protect them- selves : and when he complained of the spoilers who had robbed him, his pathetic expostulations were of no avail ; and he was constrained to submit in silence to the loss of all wherein he had put his trust. Hear to what straits he was reduced: '" Ye have taken away my gods; and what have I more*^?" And thus will it be with the ungodly in the last day.
Their " refuges of lies" will be swept away —
[The religion in which they now so confidently trust, will be proved a baseless fabric. No foundation will then stand, but that which God himself has laid : nor v^dll any super-
•= Matt. iii. 9. Jer. vii. 4. Tsai. xlviii. 1,2. <^ .Tudg. xviii. 24.
structure endure, but that which is able to abide the fiery test which shall be applied to it*^. The law, which sinners reduce to their ovm standard, will be found immutable : the obedience whicli they pay to it will be fomid so imperfect, as to be inca- pable of affording the smallest ground of justification before God. The Lord Jesus Christ will then be seen to have been the only Saviour of sinful men ; and his obedience unto death the only hope of a ruined world. The religion of the Bible vdll then appear to be, what it really is, the only means of a sinner's access to God, and acceptance with him.]
Their destitution and misery will be then com- plete—
["Ye have taken away my gods; and what have I left?" may then be considered as the bitter lamentation of every self- deceived soul. How gladly would they who were once so confident in their expectations of bliss, take refuge, if it were possible, under rocks and mountains! How thankfully would they iaccept of utter annihilation, instead of a protracted exist- ence under the wrath of God ! In vain are now their pleas, " I thought that I was right." Why did they rest in vain con- jectures ? Why did they presume to substitute a system of their own in the place of that which God had revealed ? Why would they not submit to be saved in God's own way ? Why would they venture the salvation of their souls on plans and systems of their own devising ? Alas ! it is now too late to rectify their error : they are gone beyond redemption ; and are consigned to those regions of darkness and despair, where not a single ray of hope can ever enter to dispel their gloom. " They have walked in the light of the sparks which they them- selves have kindled : and now they lie down in sorrow^."
Thus it wiU be, whatever men may now say to the con- trary S; and, if they will not believe, they shall soon " see whose word shall stand, God's or theirs '^."J
See then from hence,
1. The importance of having right sentiments in
rehgion —
[If we consider religion only as influencing the mind in this present life, it is no unimportant matter whether we have such a vain system as men form for themselves, or such a grand and glorious system as God has revealed in his word. Compare that of Micah with that of Daniel and the Hebrew Youths, and say, which of the two was the more eflfectual in the hour of trial? But extend your views to the eternal
e 1 Cor. ill. 11—13. fJsai. 1. 11.
g Job XV. 31. 1' Jer. xliv. 28.